See page 12 February-March 2015 Volume 12 No. 1 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) SP’s AN SP GUIDE P UBLICATION

www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com www.spslandforces.com ROUNDUP In This Issue The ONLY magazine in Asia-Pacific dedicated to Land Forces

Aero India 2015 >> Cover Story

Special: photograph: PIB Meet us @ Hall B (B3.7)

Page 5 Modernisation of Army Air Defence

India’s land-based AD weapons have alarming gaps and the proverbial AD umbrella is leaking heavily which needs immediate rectification Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd)

Page 7 Military Helicopters in India MBT Arjun MK-I tank The operational diversities of the Indian Military coupled with variety of terrain (from sea level to Siachen Glacier) underline the need for state-of-the-art, modern technology helicopters capable of operating both by day and night Lt General B.S. Pawar (Retd) Modernisation of Page 10 Chinese Military Continues Developing High-altitude Western Frontier The Chinese Government promulgated the the Indian Army ‘Great Western Development’ strategy in 1999, and since then has systematically invested heavily on the logistics and The capital budgets, which are meant for procurement of equipment, when infrastructure development all through western China analysed for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15, seem to suggest that no significant Dr Monika Chansoria changes in equipment status of the Army will come about in the near future

Page 11 The Islamic State — Self-styled Caliphate  Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) missiles, anti-tank and specialised ammu- that no significant changes in equipment ISIS has rapidly expanded its control nition was critically low. status of the Army will come about in the over Iraq and Syria by seizing towns and eneral V.K. Singh (Retired), Following this it seems that the Defence near future. cities near major supply routes, critical the former Chief of Army Staff Ministry had asked Army Headquarters The notable features of arm wise infrastructure and border crossings (COAS), wrote a letter regarding to fast-track acquisitions and the list of modernisation required in the army and Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) the status of equipment in the essentials was prepared and sent. How- the steps taken, as known through open Army to the Prime Minister on ever, the situation has not improved but in sources, are given in the succeeding para- Plus GMarch 12, 2012. It highlighted that the fact has worsened in the last two years or graphs with respect to armour, mechanised SP’s Exclusives 14 mission reliability of mechanised vehicles so. Adding to the existing shortages is the infantry, artillery, and infantry. Army avia- was poor, the artillery was obsolete and new raising of the Mountain Strike Corps tion and Army Air Defence (AAD) have been News in Brief 15 inadequate, air defence was antiquated, for our Eastern theatre, which is expected included in separate articles on military armour was unreliable due to regular bar- to reduce the army’s reserve stocks called helicopters and modernisation of Army Air rel accidents caused by mismatch between “War Wastage Reserves” in terms of equip- Defence respectively. indigenous barrels and ammunition, ment and munitions further. The capital night-fighting devices were insufficient, budget, which is meant for procurement Armour aviation corps helicopters needed urgent of equipment, when analysed for the years The Army had equipped two regiments replacements, and holdings of all types of 2013-14 and 2014-15, seem to suggest with Arjun tanks out of the 124 Arjun Applied for

1/2015 SP’s Land Forces 1 In a country like India with limited support from the industry and market, initiating 50 years ago (in 1964) publishing magazines relating to Army, Navy and Aviation sectors without any interruption is a commendable job on the part of SP Guide Publications. By this, SP Guide Publications has established the fact that continuing quality work in any field would result in success. Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime ”Minister of India

While we at SP’s cherish our journey started in 1964, founded by our Founder Editor and Founder Publisher Shri S P Baranwal; we do believe that the entry into 51st year and beyond is just a beginning for us. We therefore look forward to constantly evolving and expanding our qualitative efforts during coming years and coming decades.

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51 Years of SP's_Home Ad_LF&NF.indd 1 16/01/15 1:51 PM Message / Cover story >>

Message on 50 Years of SP Guide Publications

Chief Minister Message Uttarakhand

It gives me immense pleasure to know that SP Guide Publications is completing 50 years as a publication house regarding avia- tion and defence sectors. I hope the published article will be useful for the readers and will encourage youth to join our defence forces. I convey my best wishes to the Editor and the staff of the SP Guide Publications for the successful publication of the magazines.

Harish Rawat

to prepare itself for the full spec- are tight, also continues to be Wars’. But the reality is that all the which keep occurring with tire- trum of warfare. besieged by a mindset regarding wars that India has fought till date some regularity in our decision Unfortunately the past decade the viability of conventional wars since independence were Limited making and procurement sys- or so has eroded our prepared- in the future despite the Kargil Wars and therefore our thinking tem. Moreover, the delays in pro- ness and capabilities due to the experience in mid-1999 wherein and our concepts have not re- curements will keep increasing complete neglect of the military they did not even cross the line ally changed. This is also a result the backlog and will force reor- by an uncaring political leader- of control in Jammu and Kashmir of the lack of a national security ganisation of our force levels and ship and a self-serving bureau- for fear of escalating the conflict. strategy from which the national therefore it would be prudent to cracy. Even military leadership Later on, consequent to the military strategy would flow thus carry out a holistic review of our has acquiesced by not protesting December 13, 2001, attack on giving us the guidelines for equip- requirements based on the avail- strongly enough for political lead- the Indian Parliament, Operation ping ourselves and for building ability of money for defence and ers to act. This has led to a situ- Parakram was launched wherein future capabilities. Operationally if need be lower our aims and The security threats and challeng- ation where the Army is required the entire Indian military got de- the military in India functions in a aspirations and accept the exis- es facing India have increased to face the future challenges and ployed and postured for a pos- vacuum with no worthwhile inputs tential reality. enormously since the end of the threats with growing obsoles- sible conflict on the Western front from the political leadership. This issue of SP’s Land Forces Cold War in 1989 and break up cence in virtually all arms of the against Pakistan. The nation has recently an- is focused on modernisation of the of the erstwhile Soviet Union two Army, including armour, artillery, However, after remaining at nounced the raising of a Moun- Indian Army, and includes articles

EDITORIAL years later and finally the econom- infantry, army air defence and the borders for 10 months the tain Strike Corps for the Eastern on military helicopters, modernisa- ic rise of China, which the Chinese army aviation. Instead of acquir- forces pulled back. Senior mili- Theatre. However, without ad- tion of army air defence, China’s like to term as Peaceful Rise of ing capabilities for the future we tary officers often express their equate equipment and force mul- development of high-altitude China. While the old adversarial are hard put to maintain the cur- opinion that state to state, all out tipliers to ensure its mobility and western frontier, and the Islamic threats due to unresolved borders rent force levels. A dispassionate wars are a phenomenon of the firepower in mountainous terrain State – Self-styled Caliphate. remain and have got accentuated analysis would indicate that the past and are least likely to occur, in the future such an exercise is in recent times, new threats and voids in equipment and munitions yet our planning reflects that we futile. With large voids existing challenges like international ter- in the Army and lack of moderni- are still stuck in the quagmire of in the inventory of the Army how rorism, proxy war in Jammu and sation precludes the ability to fight conceiving and war-gaming sce- would raising another large for- Kashmir and home-grown insur- modern wars against well pre- narios of conventional wars as mation help? gencies have been added to the pared adversaries. was done in the past. The only Our planners need to seri- old inventory. Thus the Indian mili- Unfortunately the Indian mili- difference is that we now call such ously re-examine and review the tary continues to stress the need tary, at a time when the budgets conventional conflicts as ‘Limited entire issue in light of the delays Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

main battle tanks (MBT) ordered by it has till now inducted around 780 T-90 Improvements in the Existing A new power-pack is also under consid- earlier. As a result of the satisfactory tanks out of a total 1,657 T-90S tanks it Fleet of Tanks eration to further enhance mobility in view feedback by the units and from the tank eventually wants. The defects in the fire The T-72 M1 modernisation programme of the heavy ERA packages that are being crews, an additional 124 Arjun Mark II control systems of T-90S tanks due to exces- under Project Rhino will extend the ser- strapped on. An auxiliary power-pack for tanks have been ordered subject to sat- sive heat in the turrets during the summers vice life of the MBT by 20 years; enhance environmental control and integrated fire isfactory development of the upgraded is being remedied through air conditioning their accuracy with new fire control sys- detection and suppression system are also Mark II version of the tank for equipping of the interior. tem (FCS) whose trials are under way. This being introduced. Gun barrels capable of fir- two more regiments. These tanks will On September 13, 2013, a major deal will give night-fighting capability through ing conventional munitions and guided mis- have substantially upgraded capabilities was cleared by the Defence Acquisition a thermal imager integrated with the siles are likely to replace the existing barrels. of firepower, mobility and protection. The Council (DAC) for the manufacturing of tank’s fire control system.T his contract The modernisation of the T-72 is way development of Arjun Mark II tank with 236 additional T-90 tanks for the Indian is in an advanced stage of being finalised. behind schedule due to complicated pro- 43 improvements has commenced and Army, worth over `6,000 crore ($940 mil- In the meanwhile 600 T-72 tanks of the curement procedures exacerbated by limited technical trials incorporating the lion). This will be executed by the Avadi Army have been fitted with thermal imag- delayed decision-making and in-house improvements have been carried out in Heavy Vehicles Factory that already has a ing stand-alone sights (TISAS). Thus disagreements. Rajasthan. However, due to unsuccess- license from Russia to manufacture T-90 about 1,000 remaining T-72 tanks will The T-90, the improved T-72 M1 tanks ful trials especially concerning the main tanks from kits purchased from Russia. be fitted with more modern integrated fire and Arjun tanks, will constitute India’s armament of the tank in which problems Another contract, worth about $470 mil- control systems. armour might in the future till a new MBT are being encountered in integrating the lion has been signed for the deliveries of The T-72 tanks are additionally being is chosen or designed indigenously. anti-tank guided missiles to fire through the Invar missiles, installed on Russian- equipped with new type of explosive reac- the main 120mm tank gun. Further delay built T-90 tanks. According to local media tive armour (ERA) panels which will pro- Mechanised Infantry is expected in series manufacture of the reports, India plans to purchase 25,000 vide protection against kinetic energy as The mechanised infantry is currently Arjun Mk II. Invar missiles for its T-90 tanks, including well as tandem warhead, chemical energy equipped with the BMP-2 infantry combat T-90 tanks have now been fully opera- 10,000 to be procured directly from Rus- projectiles, along with a laser warning sys- vehicle (ICV) named Sarath. Over 1,500 tionalised and integrated in the armoured sia and 15,000 more to be manufactured tem and new radio sets for better and more of these have been manufactured since regiments. As per media reports the Army domestically under a Russian licence. secure communications. 1987. A number of variants including

1/2015 SP’s Land Forces 3 >> Cover Story

photographs: PIB, US army mortar carries, command posts, ambu- lances, armoured dozers and engineer and reconnaissance vehicles, including NBC reconnaissance vehicles have been made. The vehicle’s chassis is also modified and developed into versions such as the Nag anti-tank missile carrier (NAMICA) and the Akash air-defence missile system. The Indian Army will upgrade its entire Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty-2 (BMP-2)/2K infantry combat vehicle fleet in an effort to enhance their capability to address opera- tional requirements, then Defence Minister A.K. Antony had announced. In a written response to the Lok Sabha (Parliament), Antony said the estimated `800 crore ($140 million) project involved armament upgrade of BMP-2/2K infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) to BMP-2M standard, and acquisition of a new power-pack for the IFV. Upgrades include integration of latest generation fire control system, twin missile launchers and commander’s thermal imag- ing panoramic sights, anti- tank guided mis- Tank T- 90 Bhishma siles, as well as automatic grenade launch- ers, upgrading its existing NBC System, fire detection and suppression system, and ERA School at Mhow, in Central India, the Thar panels to provide extra protection and a desert in Rajasthan and high-altitude loca- new power-pack. The BMP-2 is also called tions in India’s Northern and Northeast Sarath in the Indian Army, and is manufac- region. It is learnt that the inking of the tured by Ordnance Factory at Medak under import of 44,618 carbines with technology licence from Russia. transfer, which have been undergoing an unending series of trials since August 2012, Arty Firepower may take longer than expected. The carbine As part of its artillery modernisation plan, trials were expected to conclude by mid-July the Army is looking at inducting several 2014 followed by a staff evaluation by the types of howitzers through inter-govern- Army to grade the vendors on the perfor- mental pacts and global tenders. The last mance of their systems. Thereafter, the MoD major acquisition of towed gun-howit- will open their respective commercial bids, zers was that of 400 pieces of 39-calibre submitted over two years earlier and begin 155mm FH-77B howitzers with a range price negotiations with the lowest qualified of 30 km from Bofors of Sweden in 1987. bidder — or L1 — before inking the deal. This gun proved its mettle in the Kargil con- This process is likely to be protracted, despite flict. After about 25 years of neglect during the high expectations of efficiency from the which the 100mm and 122mm field guns Narendra Modi Government. of Russian origin and the indigenously developed and manufactured 75/24 How- Assault Rifles itzer joined the long list of obsolete equip- M777 A2 Howitzer Army is also on the lookout for assault rifles ment, the artillery modernisation contin- (AR) to replace the INSAS 5.56mm Rifles ues to stagnate. with technologically superior weapons. The 155mm towed guns. Army still awaits MoD issued the tender for 66,000, 5.56mm the procurement of about 1,580 howit- Senior Artillery officers point out that quarters battle (CQB) carbines and over multi-calibre assault rifles out of a total zers of 155mm, 52 calibre. Out of these, Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP), 2,20,000 assault rifles through a combina- requirement of 2,20,000 assault rifles in 400 are to be procured outright and 1,180 which was mooted in 1999 envisaged the tion of imports and licensed-manufacture November 2011 to 43 overseas vendors. manufactured indigenously with transfer then `5,000-`7,000 crore procurement of by the OFB. Some details are given in the Five vendors responded positively. of technology (ToT). Over the last few years, over 3,200 of assorted calibre howitzers succeeding paragraphs The assault rifles were required to several RfPs that were floated for this project by the end of the Army’s 14th Five-Year weigh no more than 3.6 kg and to have a were cancelled due to various reasons and Finance Plan in 2027. This plan has been Carbines singular platform with changing parts to then new tenders were floated.T rials have totally wrecked because of inordinate delays In August 2012 the process of procuring convert readily from 5.56 x 45mm to 7.62 been underway since October 2013. in decision making and procurement. 44,618, 5.56mm out of a total requirement x 39mm merely by switching the barrel 145 ultra-light howitzers (M777) of about 1,60,080 close quarter battle car- and magazine for employment in counter- which were being procured from the US Infantry bines to replace the outdated 9mm model insurgency or conventional roles. In the through the foreign military sales (FMS) The Defence Acquisition Council had was set in motion because the Indian Army race are the Czech Republic’s CZ 805 BREN route from BAE Systems, also came under approved of a new assault rifle, 5.56mm since 2010 was without a carbine as the model, Israeli IWI’s ACE 1, Baretta’s ARX a shadow. The deal is reportedly stuck for calibre and a new generation carbine to Ordnance Factory Board had ceased manu- 160, Colt’s Combat Rifle and Sig Sauer’s want of agreement on the offsets obliga- replace the 9mm carbine which had been facture of all variants of the WWII 9mm SG551. The latter’s participation, however, tions and upward revision in the price inti- weeded out of the army without getting carbines, including ammunition. remains uncertain as Sig Sauer is under mated to Congress by the US Government a replacement. The Army’s immediate The tender for the 5.56mm carbines investigation by the Central Bureau of from $647 million to $885 million. requirement is for around 1,60,080 close requires each weapon system to weigh less Investigation (CBI). A transfer of technol- Indigenous efforts to manufacture than 3 kg, fire 600 rounds per minute to a ogy to the OFB to locally build the selected 155mm howitzers by Ordnance Factories minimum distance of 200 m and be capable rifle is part of the tender. Board to produce a 45-calibre 155mm After about 25 years of operating in extreme temperatures. Pica- howitzer based on ToT obtained from Bofors tinny rail-mounted reflex and passive night Light Machine Gun in the 1980s, are now underway. The of neglect during sights, visible and invisible laser spot desig- Another weapon under technical evalua- DAC approved a proposal from the OFB to nators and multi-purpose detachable bayo- tion is the 7.62 light machine gun (LMG) manufacture 144 pieces of 155mm/45- which the 100mm and nets complete their QRs. The selected ven- which will then be subjected to extensive calibre howitzers with the option to acquire dor will be required to transfer technology trials before staff evaluation and further another 400 provided the prototypes suc- 122mm field guns of to the OFB to licence-build CQB carbines progress. Hence the wait for the new LMG is cessfully meet the Army’s GSQR in user tri- and 5.56mm ammunition, for use not only likely to be longer. als. Meanwhile, the Defence Research and Russian origin and the by the Army, but eventually the Central and Development Organisation (DRDO) has State police forces. Conclusion embarked on its own venture to design and indigenously developed The global manufacturers in the race for It is encouraging to note that India’s secu- develop a 155mm howitzer in partnership and manufactured 75/24 the new CQB carbine were Israel Weapon rity concerns have, for the first time, con- with a private sector company. Industries (IWI) Galil Ace carbine, Italy’s verged with international security concerns The acquisition of 814 truck-mounted howitzer joined the long Beretta with its ARX-160 and USA’s Colt which makes global community understand guns that has been approved by the Defence and Sig Sauer. However, the US subsidiary of the need for India to develop and modernise Minister recently will be undertaken list of obsolete equipment, Swiss gun maker Sig Sauer, which was origi- its military capabilities. Defence of a nation under the ‘Buy and Make Indian’ category nally part of the tender with its 516 Patrol and development are complementary. If with ToT. While the first 100 guns will be the artillery modernisation Rifle, failed to turn up at the ongoing carbine India aspires for high economic growth and imported, the remaining 714 will be pro- trials and hence only three manufacturers to be a regional/global economic power, duced in India. The total project cost is esti- continues to stagnate are currently in the race. These weapons its military power must reflect that desire

SP www.spslandforces.com mated to be `15,750 crore. have undergone field trials at the Infantry through its ability to protect its interests.

4 SP’s Land ForceS 1/2015 modernisation >> Modernisation of Army Air Defence India’s land-based AD weapons have alarming gaps and the proverbial AD umbrella is leaking heavily which needs immediate rectification

 Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) tage ranging from about 50 years old progress. The Defence Research and Devel- system. The process of induction of this (L70 gun) to the youngest being 20 years opment Organisation’s (DRDO) develop- upgraded system is in progress. rmy Air Defence (AAD) is an old (Tangushka). The remaining gun and ment effort also kept its replacement at a important component of mod- missile systems are also more than two limb for about two decades. Not many gun 23mm Twin gun ern warfare as air power and air decades old. The technology, especially systems are currently available but a pos- This is a fair weather gun system which is of threat is developing rapidly due in the field of ammunition, missiles, sen- sible choice was Skyshield of Rheinmetall more than three decades old however its rate to improved aeronautics, avion- sors and active seekers, has advanced very AD but unfortunately the company has of firing is very good (2,000 rounds per min- icsA and armament. UAVs have added anoth- rapidly thus it is necessary to upgrade been blacklisted by India thus there is no ute).It is suitable for mobile role and employ- er dimension to the threat which started and replace the existing AD weapon sys- hope even in the distant future for a suc- ment in the mountains. It is being upgraded with reconnaissance and surveillance, and tems at least every 15-20 years so that cessor system. Even if a gun is shortlisted, by BEL. The upgrade includes power lay and has now manifested into armed platforms. they remain current. Apart the aspect it may take at least five years for the delivery electro-optical sighting system which will The employment of cruise and ballistic mis- of weapon obsolescence, there is a factor to start. Notionally if 10 regiments have to enhance its capability manifold and also pro- siles make any adversaries’ airpower formi- of shelf life of ammunition and missiles be provided with the new guns then at the vide it with night-firing capability. dable. The security environment in India’s which effects their lethality, accuracy and rate of one regiment per year, it will take 10 neighbourhood is always on a dangerous safety. Considering the vintage, the cur- years to equip all the 10 regiments provided Schilka System threshold and a short fuse which is proven rent AAD picture is rather dismal when there is no spillover. Thus if new guns are It is a highly mobile system for supporting by the active LOC and IB in the recent past reviewed system by system. inducted by 2030 the current guns, which armour formations and is in service since the thus it is essential to continuous update and are already obsolete, will have to provide early 70’s. Its successor was Tangushka, one modernise AAD weaponry and manpower. L/70 Gun system AD till then which is impractical. Currently regiment of which was procured, but there L/70 is the mainstay of AAD and has been L70 is also being upgraded jointly by BEL were many twists and turns for buying addi- Current AD Scenario the war horse of AAD since 1964. It was and Ordnance Factory, Jabalpur; with elec- tional mounts. The result is that the AAD is AAD is holding systems of varying vin- to be replaced by 2000 however there is no tric power lay, and electro-optical sighting stuck with limited equipment which is obso-

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photographs: Rafael, saab lete and difficult to maintain.T he Schilka upgrade has been carried out jointly by BEL Spyder-SR+Spyder- with Elbit of Israel which includes a new MR launcher more powerful engine, digital computer, bet- ter electro-optical sighting system and a new fire control radar.T he four barrel 23mm gun with a rate of fire of 3,400 rounds per min- ute has been retained and there is a provision for firing shoulder-fired missiles.T he induc- tion has also started. Meanwhile possibilities should be explored for induction of a better system through ‘Joint Venture’ route.

Quick Reaction SAM (QR SAM) System The current system is OSA-AK which is a highly mobile system for the air defence of armour formations. This system is more than 20 years old and needs to be replaced. DRDO’s effort to develop Trishul system did not succeed and a RFP had been issued twice. Hopefully the current RFP will be taken to its logical conclusion.

Systems Available Globally Saab’s ASRAD (Atlas short-range air defence) system -R is a vehicle mounted sys- tem which is suitable for the protection of armoured and other units on the move

Spyder SHORAD Missile System of RAFAEL – IAI (Israel) Spyder name is a combination of PYthon RBS 70 NG the HAWK AN/MPQ-61 high power illumi- and DERby missiles which are integral to nator for target tracking and illumination, the Spyder system. Python has an IR dual although it is possible to hook up with any waveband electro-optical imaging seeker number of radars and missile systems to the with lock-on after launch, with infrared FDC. It has been reported that HAWK has counter-countermeasures. Derby has an been upgraded and named HAWK21 with active radar seeker, lock on before launch the FDC developed by Kongsberg as part and advanced programmable ECCM. Spyder of NASAM system. Raytheon jointly with has a maximum range of 15 km and alti- Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, continue tude of ZO-9,000 m, can carry out simul- to integrate new capabilities into NASAMS taneous engagement of multiple targets, to develop and field highly capable and fully carry out ripple firing, is all-weather and integrated solutions. highly immune to countermeasures. The Comparative trials have been carried system is claimed to effectively counter all out on some of the systems like Spyder modern aerial threats including aircraft, SHORAD Missile System of RAFAEL – IAI helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs and preci- (Israel), ASRAD-R SHORAD missile system sion guided weapons. The two operational of Saab (Sweden), Tor M1 9M330 SHORAD missiles complement each other in their System—designed by Almaz-Antey of Rus- target detection, tracking and pursuit pro- sia but seems to be no further development. file.T he surveillance radar EL/M-2106NG Maybe the NDA Government has to take ATAR 3D can simultaneously track and stock of the situation. engage up to 60 targets, at a range beyond Tor M1 9M330 SHORAD System- Surface launched advanced medium- Medium range SAM (MRSAM) system. 35 km. and is a part of the CCU. Indian Air designed by Almaz-Antey of Russia range air-to-air missile (SLAMRAAM) Kvadrat is the current system which is Force has already acquired the system. The Tor-M1 SHORAD (SAM-15) is a clas- SLAMRAAM is a key player in Raytheon more than 35 years old and has the tech- sic mobile Russian system designed espe- Integrated Defense Systems’ state-of-the- nology of early 1960’s thus an RFP has ASRAD-R SHORAD missile system of cially for air defence of armoured and other art integrated air and missile defence sys- been issued but later on withdrawn due to Saab (Sweden) mobile formations. Tor is successor to OSA- tems which can counter current and future poor response. As DRDO’s Akash has not Saab’s ASRAD-R (Atlas short-range air AK SHORAD (SAM-8) System. It can engage cruise missile threats, and a wide range been found suitable for mobile role, a few defence) system is a vehicle-mounted sys- targets from medium to very low altitudes, of air breathing threats. SLAMRAAM is regiments of Akash has been contracted tem which is suitable for the protection of against many type of aerial targets like capable of defending manoeuvring land for semi-static role. Meanwhile, DRDO armoured and other units on the move. It helicopters, fighters, AU Vs, guided/cruise forces, high-value fixed assets and mass has signed a MOU with Israel for the joint is designed and produced by Saab in coop- missiles and precision guided weapon; in population centres. SLAMRAAM is the US development of a missile system of about eration with Rheinmetall Defence Electron- an intense jamming environment. A typi- Army’s domestic variant of the Norwegian 70 km. It is meant for Army, Navy and ics of Germany. ASRAD-R uses the same cal Russian air defence battalion consists advanced surface-to-air missile system the Air Force. Meanwhile in the interim unjammable laser guidance Bolide missile of 3-5 companies, each equipped with four (NASAMS system). SLAMRAAM system phase, the AAD may explore the possibil- of combat-proven RBS 70 system. It can be transporter launcher vehicle (TLVs). Each uses the AMRAAM fire-and-forget missile, a ity of importing a few regiments of Patriot mounted on almost all type of wheeled and TLV is equipped with 8 ready to launch surveillance radar, a fire distribution centre Advance Capability-3 (PAC-3) from the US tracked vehicles. ASRAD-R carries ready to missiles, associating radars, fire control (FDC) and AMRAAM launchers. The SL- through the FMS route. PAC-3 is the obvi- fire, four missiles which can be fired within a systems and a battery command post. The AMRAAM launcher mounts six AMRAAM ous choice as it is war proven; has hit to kill few seconds of coming to halt. The missiles combat vehicle can operate autonomously missiles on a turreted high-mobility multi- technology; can engage aitcrafts, helicop- can be reloaded in less than a minute. Bolide and can also fire on the move.T he system purpose wheeled vehicle which provides ters, UAV’s, cruise and tactical ballistic mis- missile is laser beam-riding which provides can be brought into action in three minutes 360° coverage. The US Army uses the Ray- siles. It is also deployed with many nations reliable all-target capability with an inter- and typical reaction time, from target detec- theon AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar to carry including the US. cept range of 8,000 m and an altitude cov- tion to missile launch, could range from 3.4 out the surveillance and target search, Shoulder-fired SAM systems. The cur- erage of 5,000 m. The laser-beam guidance seconds for stationary positions to 10 sec- acquisition, identification and track- rent system is Igla which is also in service is almost impossible to jam, enables short onds while on the move. Each fire unit can ing functions. The electronically scanned with the Indian Navy and the Air Force. A reaction times, engaging multiple targets, engage two separate targets. It has a search phased array radar uses range gate pulse tri-service RFP was issued and comparative has head-on capability with high kill prob- radar, a monopulse tracking and engage- doppler operation at X-band, has a scan trials have been carried out during 2011- ability at long range and almost ground ment radar, and automatic command to rate of 30 rpm and range of 75 km. The 12 including Saab’s RBS70-NG but there level altitude. The maximum velocity of the line of sight guided missiles. Tor M1 can system is integrated with a FDC, mounted has been no further development. missile is Mach 2. The new Bolide missile, detect and track up to 48 targets at a maxi- on a high mobility vehicle which provides the ASRAD-R system can counter all types mum range of 25 km. It can engage two tactical operational control including target Conclusion of targets, including hard ground targets. targets simultaneously at a range of 1 to 12 detection, identification, threat assessment, With the rapid development in air power due Each ASRAD-R unit is equipped with Saab’s km and altitude of 10-6,000 m with a kill target designation and damage assessment. to fifth-generations fighters, armedA U Vs HARD radar which is an X-band 3D search probability of 92-95 per cent. It is in service Hawk-AMRAAM air defence system. and cruise missiles, it is essential that the and acquisition radar whose small size and with Russia, China and Iran amongst many Raytheon and Kongsberg Defence have complete AD system which includes land, lightweight makes it easy to integrate with others. Tor M2 is a improved version of Tor jointly developed the HAWK-AMRAAM air sea and air-based AAD weapons, develops all type of vehicles. Typically each ASRAD- M1. It is claimed that it can deflect massive defence system, which combines the capa- matching ‘anti’ capability. India’s land- R battery has three to four ASRAD-R firing enemy air raids in an intense jamming envi- bilities of HAWK and AMRAAM missiles based AD weapons have alarming gaps and units but can be tailored as per the require- ronment and entered service in 2008. Tor by integrating the system with FDC. The the proverbial AD umbrella is leaking heav-

SP www.spslandforces.com ment of the user. M2E is an export version of the Tor M2. system can include the Sentinel radar and ily which needs immediate rectification.

6 SP’s Land ForceS 1/2015 helicopters >> Military Helicopters in India

The operational diversities of the Indian military coupled with variety of terrain (from sea level to Siachen Glacier) underline the need for state-of-the-art, modern technology helicopters capable of operating both by day and night

 Lt General B.S. Pawar (Retd) Present Status panies. Indian majors like Tatas, Reliance, already commenced with a unit currently Presently the Indian military holds in its Mahindra, Bharat Forge, are likely to enter under raising for the army – however a oday military helicopters inventory approximately 600 helicopters the fray looking at JVs with foreign majors major drawback in the Rudra presently is are an integral part of the land, of all types and class including some spe- like American-Bell and Sikorsky, Russian- the lack of a suitable anti-tank guided mis- sea and air operations of mod- cialised ones. However, they are mostly old Kamov, Italian-AgustaWestland and Euro- sile in its weapon arsenal. In the medium- ern armies and are being increas- and vintage and few in numbers, far from pean-Airbus Helicopters. The Navy is also lift category the air force holds the MI 8 and ingly employed in subconventional the quantity required. The light observation looking to replace its current fleet of Chetak/ the MI 17 Russian helicopters. While the MI Toperations (counter insurgency and coun- helicopters (Chetak and Cheetah) held with modified Chetak-MATCH (midair torpedo 8 fleet is in the process of being replaced by ter terrorist operations) the world over. A the Army, Navy and Airforce have outlived carrying helicopter) with a twin engine, 4.5- MI-17s, the majority of the existing MI-17 typical military helicopter force should have their utility and need immediate replace- tonne helicopter capable of operating from fleet has been upgraded/refurbished in all class of helicopters ranging from light ment.The latest attempt to replace these warship decks, as well as being armed with respect of avionics and night capability. Cur- observation to utility/lift (light, medium ageing and obsolescent helicopters has met rockets/guns and lightweight torpedoes. RFI rently 80 MI-17 V5 helicopters are being and heavy) including for specialised roles a similar fate to that of the earlier procure- for these has also been floated along with acquired from Russia—these helicopters are (attack/armed), as per the operational ment project of 2004 cancelled in 2008. that of the reconnaissance and surveillance upgraded versions, with glass cockpit, night requirement of a country’s armed forces. The trials for the current project were com- helicopters (RSH). capability and armament package and will The operational diversities of the Indian pleted in 2013— in fray were the Airbus AS In the light utility category, the ALH boost the armed forces lift capability. military coupled with variety of terrain 550 C3 Fennec and the Russian Kamov-Ka has already entered service with all three In the heavy-lift category there is noth- (from sea level to Siachen Glacier) under- 226T helicopters. The decision to cancel Services and Coast Guard. The ALH has ing worthwhile held with the Indian mili- line the need for state-of-the-art, modern this critical project was taken by the Min- also been test evaluated for high altitude tary, barring a few Russian MI 26 helicop- technology helicopters capable of operat- istry of Defence (MoD) in August last year operations with the fitment of a more ters whose high-altitude capability is poor. ing both by day and night, in a complex after allegations of corruption and technical powerful engine ‘Shakti’ being produced Based on the Army’s requirement of a suit- battlefield environment of future. As per deviations in the selection process, surfaced jointly by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd able helicopter capable of lifting under slung reports the armed forces are looking to during the ongoing VVIP helicopter probe. A (HAL) and French firmT urbomeca. This is the ultra-light howitzer being acquired from induct as many as 1,000 helicopters in fresh RFI has been issued in October last year a major achievement and will give a boost the United States for deployment in moun- the coming decade ranging from attack/ with the aim of identifying probable Indian to helicopter operations in high altitude tains, the process for acquisition was set armed and high altitude reconnaissance to vendors including Indian companies form- areas especially Siachen. The induction of into motion. Trials for the same have been medium and heavy lift. ing joint ventures (JVs) with foreign com- the armed version of the ALH (Rudra) has completed with the American Chinook CH

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1/2015 SP’s Land Forces 7 www.spslandforces.com helicopters foritsPivothelicopters R Corps. 60 the army planning to induct a total of unit is already under the first raising with last AeroIndiashow 2013— inFebruary cially handedover totheArmy duringthe version called the‘R theALHisarmed Another variant of ‘Shakti’ engine, hasalsoenteredservice. ALHfittedwiththemorepowerful sion of tion inthecomingdecade. 60-70areplannedforinduc- far—another have beeninductedandoperationalised so menced in2002.Sincethen60helicopters indigenously ALHcom- manufactured of enced theoutcome. hence nosingle entitycouldhave influ- sionals frombothArmy andAirForce and - specialistsandprofes by ajointteamof werereplacement helicopters conducted tonote that thetrialsfor It isalsopertinent any irregularity.cleared the trial processof MoD during the previous an oversight committee appointed by the the projectwas taken that despitethefact cautiousapproach to cancel unnecessary troopsdeployed onthoseicy heights. of where theCheetahhelicopterislifeline the Army, especially inhigh-altitudeareas the overall affect operational capability of and will no doubtCheetah/Chetak fleet suitable helicoptertoreplacetheageing a bereftof (RSH) has left the services ters reconnaissance and surveillance helicop- 197 and criticalprojectforacquisitionof the most important The cancellation of intheAirforce.ing withtheMiG-21fleet uncanny resemblancetowhat ishappen- mishaps have an of frequent occurrences vived the crash withminor injuries. (includingthetwo pilots)sur other officers gency, Commanderandthree that theCorps two pilotsinhandlingthiscriticalemer the being enginefailure. Itistothecreditof withthepossiblecause diately aftertake-off 2thehelicoptercrashed February imme- of Intheaccident Base, killingthreeofficers. late lastyear at theBareily Army A Cheetah helicopteraccidentthat occurred thefatal has followed incloseproximity of ing andobsoleteCheetah/Chetakfleet. now age- operationson safe capability of this year hasonceagain putthespotlight tah accidentinNagaland 2 onFebruary the acknowledgednightmare—a fact bothby sparesismakingtheirmaintainability a of Chetak). the light observation class (Cheetah and themajoritybeingof the threeservices, amongst helicopters largest number of The Army A Army Aviation Future Requirements/Acquisitions Sikorsky 70Bhasbeenapproved. of Acquisition Councilmeetingtheselection Sikorsky 70B in fray in the recent with theEuropeanNH-90andAmerican itsmulti-role SeaKingfleet replacement of had also conducted extensive trials for already beengiven by theMoD – in-principleapproval forthesamehas A Army has also put in itsrequirement for 39 sion) islikely tocommencethisyear. A sian MI-28(Havoc). Longbow hasbeenselectedover theR theAmerican attack helicopters of the recent trials conducted for acquisition ASWhelicopter. modern state-of-the-art In Navy with a needupgrade/replacement heldwiththe Sea KingASWhelicopters require replacementonpriority. Even the heldarevintageattack helicopters and marine warfare. (ASW). likehelicopters theattack andanti-sub- specialised inventorytary istheholdingof areplannedforinduction. numbers 47 scoringover theR >> 8 paches BlockIIIforitsthreestrike corps verpaches BlockIII(latest upgraded In theutility/liftcategory theinduction The weakest linkisintheIndianmili- HAL and the military. SP’s LandForce helic Their vintage and non-availability viation Corps todayviation Corps holds the opters udra’, which- was offi ussian MI-26.Fifteen he induction of 22 The inductionof The MI25/M35 S Government had The latest Chee- The latest ver 1/2015 . The Navy udra isa efence Defence viation pache These This This The us- - - - -

on futureattack helicopters. nologies being consideredfordeployment theadvanced tech- demonstrates many of be inductedinto the Indian military, which A upgraded the that thelatest versionunderstood of 39 A – attack helicopters own requirementsof Army’s favour, thearmy hasprojectedits in attack helicopters issueof ownership made onthisprojectsofar. Force. However very littleprogresshasbeen would also be available to the class multi-role helicopterwhose variants with a foreignvendor for a 10/12-tonne ajointventure of looking at thefeasibility oped by the Nag ATGM ‘Helina’,beingdevelversion of - anti-tank guidedmissile(ATGM), astheair withasuitableit hasnotbeenintegrated suite. However, initspresentconfiguration electronicwarfaregrated self-protection sightingsystemandinte- with amodern air-to-air andair-to-ground missiles,along weapon systemsincludinggun,rockets, helicopterwithanarray of typical armed its overall tactical lift capability. for special operations as well as enhancing suitable helicopter in the 10/12-tonne class itsfullpotential. iting theexploitation of helicopter merely remains a gunship, inhib- armed/attack helicopterandwithoutitthe The ATG an M isthemainweapon systemof HAL. combat helicopter(LCH)projectof this delay isalsolikely toimpactthelight the R has beentaken with onthisprojectsofar Israel. Nodecision France andSPIKE-ERof —in contentionaretheP outandcompletedtwocarried years back ATGAccordingly M ex import. trialswere threeinitialR fitment of interim measure, theMoDhadcleared ment Organisation isnotyet ready. Asan Block IIIhelicopter Boeing AH-64D Apache Mi-17 helicopter With the decision of theMoDon With thedecisionof The Army isalsolookingtoacquirea pache MkIIIforitsStrike Itis Corps. udra remainingwithoutanATGM – pache BlockIII(Guardian)isto efence Defence R esearch and Develop- udra unitswithan S 3 of MBDA ARS 3of Navy and Air The HAL is cially on our northern borders. cially onournorthern the battle, espe- during critical phases of theatre troopmovement/logistical support inducted—this willgreatly enhanceintra- being CH-47F Chinookareintheprocessof In theheavy-lift American category fifteen its own undertheHomeMinistry.air forceof the BorderSecurityForce which hasamini also includes the requirements of ters—this olderMI-17helicop- certain phasing outof withR 17V5 helicopters have 59 x MI- also been placed for additional beinginducted.Order’s are intheprocessof weapon pods and hardpointsforfitmentof version) withglass cockpits,nightcapability (upgraded and 80 x MI-17V5 helicopters fornightcapabilityrefurbished/upgraded heldhaveexisting MI-17helicopters been existing MI-17holdingisnotadequate. MI 8isobsoleteandneedsphasingout,the heavy-lift While (MI-26)helicopters. the remains the medium-(MI-8 and MI-17) and theAirForce’s helicopters, mainconcern ChetakandCheetah of an obsoletefleet beingleftstranded with the problemof to Inaddition itshelicopterfleet. ernising mod- The AirForce isalsointheprocessof Air Force tonne class of helicopters. helicopters. tonne classof RSH –requirementisfor56twin-engine 4.5- on thesamelinesasforA rmy/Air Force a freshRFIhasbeenissuedinOctoberlastyear cancelled, Chetakhelicopters replacement of cess for56naval (NUH)for utilityhelicopters Withhelicopters. theearlieracquisitionpro- ing at overhauling including airarm itsfleet ment/upgrades. are oldand need replace- These helicopters operations. for ship borne Chetak helicopters theyHelicopter). Inaddition have of afleet Chetak-MAT vehicle)(anti-surface andthe modified theSeaKing (ASW),Kamov consisting of The IndianNavy operates ahelicopterfleet Navy CH (MidAir The Navy isalready look- ussia tocater forthe pho eaqiiino The acquisitionof T orpedo Carrying Carrying orpedo t ographs: IAF , boeing he The class multi-role helicopterproject. proposed jointventure forthe10/12-tonne the Army isalsoclosely monitoringtheHAL mately 60suchplatforms.Navy alongwith initially, approxi- thetotal requirement is of areplannedtobeinducted 16 helicopters Sikorsky’s S-70B has beenselected and while SeaKing’s. Asbroughtoutearlier of ing fleet (NMRHproject)toreplaceitsagehelicopters - multi-role ducted thetrialsforacquisitionof be inducted. ations arelikely at sea—morenumbers to proved aversatile oper platformforairborne fromR helicopters Kamov-31 early airborne warning (AEW) issue onpriority. MoD diate solution in sight. implications and thereseemstobenoimme- has fleet seriousoperational andsafety very the Cheetah/Chetak non-replacement of stan have fully thisaspect. corroborated operations inAfghani- emphasized—the operationscounter-terrorist cannotbeover roleincounter-insurgencycrucial and enhanced roleinany futureconflict. willplay helicopters avastlyMilitary Conclusion fortheLCH. customers Both theAirForce andArmy arethepotential a tallorderasthetrialsareyet tocommence. clearance by Septemberthisyear –thisseems and HALhopestoachieve initialoperational on March 29, 2010, since its maiden flight development have flights taken ber of place and streamlinedfortandemseating. Anum- except that thefuselage issuitably modified theexisting ALHanditsconfigurations ogy of the Indianmilitary. and would meet theuniquerequirementsof ity tooperate at highaltitudes(16,000feet) attack helicopterwithcapabilstate-of-the-art - bat helicopter(LCH). thelightcom- cant beingthedevelopment of tures fortheIndianmilitary, themostsignifi- ven- The HALhasembarked onanumber of HAL Ventures forIndian Military the helicoptermarket. it wants to stay relevant in joint ventures, if itinvolves forces,evenects forthearmed if and incorporate thesameinitsfutureproj- the developing futurehelicoptertechnology Moreover, HALwillhave tokeep inmind aerospace industry, especially helicopters. and go alongway infosteringgrowth inthe opments which willgenerate competition this direction. RSH andNUprojectsareaclearpointerin ment projectandthetwo RFIsissuedforthe theA case of andaerospacemarket.enter thedefence has given totheprivate to afillip industry onindigenisationin India’policy andthrust near future. the entireNH-92inthe ages theassembly of buttheprojectenvis at thisfacility factured - Presently only thecabins arebeingmanu- ducing theS-92SuperHawk helicopters. lished amajorhubat Hyderabad forpro- the helicoptergiantSikorsky andestab- Advanced Systems Limitedhas tied up with theHAL.A sive preserve of craft industry, thus challenging the exclu - vate sector has recently entered the rotor nascent stage withnoprogressinsight. the militarieworld over ispresently at a tonne classMRH,aconceptbeingadoptedby HAL thenewdevelopments. a change inviewof Army andAirForce –thisislikely toundergo original planHALwas tosupply 187LUHto stage hasbeenreached.Asper design freeze the for Cheetah/Chetak — as per reports and above the197replacementhelicopters andisover allthreeservices of & observation) cater forthelightutilityclass(reconnaissance class light-utilityhelicopter(LUH). athreetonne of opment andmanufacture The In asignificantdevelopment thepri- ’s plans for development of a10/12- ’s plansfordevelopment of need to address this , alongwithHALneedtoaddress HAL hasalsoundertaken the devel- The Navy hassuccessfully con- The newgovernment’s ‘Make vro transport aircraft replace- vro transport These are very positive devel- SP The LCHusesthetechnol- ussia in the 1990s has ussia inthe1990shas is stated to be a The LCHisstated tobea he armed forces and The armed T ata firm, his is to This isto Their T The The ata - -

TOR – TODAY AND TOMORROW AIR DEFENSE

In competitive development of air attack means up-to-date air attack means and intended to de- KapustinYar tests and demonstration firing (in - and air defense equipment it has long ago become struct HPW (anti-radar missiles, guided and gliding cluding missiles launches) were undertaken apparent a tendency when domain of confrontation aerial bombs) and high-speed, diving, maneuvering within the tender process for procurement ofTor- of these armaments transfers to near ground level. manned and unmanned aerial vehicles capable of M2KM SAMS under conditions of military- techni- That particular tendency stipulates for definition of flying within 24 hours at extremely low, low and cal cooperation. requirements to short range surface-to-air systems: medium altitudes at a velocity of up to 700 m/s Demonstration launches became the culminating - hitting high precision weapon (anti-radar mis- and using active and passive jamming. These SAM moment. The fire were held in two phases. Accord- siles, guided aerial bombs, cruise missiles), manned systems were designed as the systems of final posi- ing to conditions of the first task a target, function and unmanned aerial vehicles; tion being the basic battle means to fight against of which was fulfilled by the SAMAN missile, was - high probability of hitting high-speed, diving, massive strikes of HPW just above the battle field. fired by two missiles simultaneously in daylight maneuvering and low-flying targets; They ensure effective air defense of military units hours. The target was hit by the first missile over a - ability to hit the targets flying with a great on the move and in cantonment areas, during any distance of more than 10 km. Another missile was course parameter; modern mobile combat action, as well as defense of self-destructed. The second test phase anticipated - high noise immunity; key state and military installations. Nowadays the pursuit engagement of small-size target in night - short reaction time (time between appearance Tor SAMS is the only weapon all over the world that time. The target was an UAV. This target was hit by of the first target mark and launch of missile); can hit four missiles on the principle of: one mis- one missile too. The system came through the firing - availability of target and missile channels (abil- sile - one target. test brilliantly demonstrating one hundred percent ity to hit several targets simultaneously); The best demonstration of leading positions successful result, besides it underwent comprehen- - sufficient missile ammunition to solve combat of the Tor family SAM systems on the world-wide sive running tests on the road prepared specially missions. arms market is the result of firing tests carried out and all the tests confirming uninterrupted failures- Short range SAM systems of the TOR family pro- both on territory of foreign states and Russian fir- free operation. Such results are natural conse- duced by IEMP KUPOL, such as Tor-M2E, Tor-M2K ing ranges. quence of high quality of the equipment, high-skill and Tor-M2KM, meet in full all the requirements. From September 30 to October 17 of 2014 in job of combat crew and perfect organization of the They were designed to struggle against various testing area of the Russian Ministry of Defense tests. The tender committee highly appreciated op- eration of the Tor-M2KM system. The manufacturer’s experts say about great pros- pects for the Tor-M2KM SAM system. Nowadays it is the only system that is capable of providing de- fense of big cities inside of its boundary, vital mili- tary, industrial and public facilities, railway stations, naval bases, airfields, arsenals etc. The design- ers managed to develop a compact, independent combat module mountable on various platforms including truck chassis, semi-trailers, trailers, rail- way platforms and decks of low-tonnage vessels. Besides it can be mounted on special frames and used in stationary mode. Today the modular con- struction principle of WME is adapted by design- ers in many countries.However there are simply no counterparts of the Tor-M2KM SAM system today. The launches proved once again unsurpassed engineering and combat characteristics of Russian SAMS Tor-M2KM as well as its absolute superiority over similar systems produced in other countries.As the experts of KUPOL note, experience of the Tor- M2KM SAM system production and the executed tests results enable to develop new modifications of the system.

Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern, JSC 121471, Moscow, Vereyskaia st., 41 Tel.: (495) 276-29-65, fax: (495) 276-29-69 E-mail: [email protected]

Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, JSC Russia, Udmurt Republic, Izhevsk, Pesochnaia st., 3 Tel.: (3412) 903211, fax: (3412) 726819 E-mail: [email protected] >> neighbourhood Chinese Military Continues Developing High-altitude Western Frontier

The Chinese Government promulgated the ‘Great Western Development’ strategy in 1999, and since then has systematically invested heavily on the logistics and infrastructure development all through western China

photograph: defense.gov  Dr Monika Chansoria Earlier, incomplete domestic installations and lack of heat preservation in the older he posturing of China’s Peo- barracks posed difficulties vis-à-vis credible ple’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the frontier defence. The decision to invest in border regions shared with India constructing and renovating logistics facili- surfacing in the backdrop of its ties of high-altitude companies including at shifting strategy from continental Shenxianwan, began way back in 2007 as Tto peripheral defence tends to underline per directives of the CMC and the General the Chinese military’s doctrinal intent of Headquarters of the PLA, the Lanzhou mili- resolving to “fight and win local wars on its tary area command and the Xinjiang MAC. borders.” What appears to emerge is that Moreover, the newly constructed and the Chinese leadership under President Xi commissioned barracks of the Biedieli fron- Jinping is continuing the previous adminis- tier defence company are equipped report- tration’s policy of ensuring that the western edly with “ten major systems” including development strategy continues, which fur- direct-drinking water purification system, ther would guarantee its firm control over solar-powered and boiler bathing system, regions in western China. Upon his return solar-powered and diesel engine generating from India in September 2014, Xi was quot- system, boiler heating and a solar heating ed as saying by the state-run Xinhua news system. It has been reported by the PLA that agency, “Headquarters of all People’s Lib- all grassroots companies have been equipped eration Army forces should improve their with satellite televisions and availability of combat readiness and sharpen their ability Internet in nearly 90 per cent of the organic to win a regional war in the age of informa- battalions and companies. That field opera- tion technology.” Besides, a senior officer tions’ living support enhances and improves with the PLA’s General Staff Headquarters, combat effectiveness is a given, it is very cru- Wu Xihua, affirmed earlier at a press con- cial to note that the PLA has already imple- ference in Beijing that the basic duty of the mented the “oxygen-inhaling project” in armed forces is to fight wars, while its mis- PLA’s plateau troop units. sion in times of peace is to prepare for war. The past few years have witnessed In a series of capability-enhancing ini- exceptional PLAAF activity on the Qing- tiatives, the latest one came in the form of hai-Tibet plateau, with the PLAAF in the China upgrading the status of Major Gen- Chengdu Military Area Command holding eral Tang Xiao, the political commissar of structure development all through western west will boost the military’s capacity to live ammunition drills, during which it car- the Tibet Armed Police Corps, to that of China. From a military perspective, this carry out diversified tasks.T he Xi Jinping ried out surgical strikes at night by testing becoming head of a Corps-size military infrastructure and logistics build-up shall Administration further holds that funda- the multi-role J-10 fighter jets, in a “first body. What is noteworthy is while that the double up critically as base support for the mentally, the diversified employment of the operation of its kind.” China’s state-con- Tibet Corps itself has not been upgraded, PLA and be vital in improving the rapid armed forces is meant to safeguard national trolled media reported that the ground crew the elevation of the Police Corps, has been deployment capability of China’s integrated territorial sovereignty, as well as provide of the J-10 regiment fuelled the fighters and hailed as a major decision “based on the forces, particularly the ability to swiftly firm security guarantees.T he diversified loaded ammunition on the 3,500-metre- special environment and strategic posi- manoeuvre heavy equipment to and from employment of Chinese armed forces aims high plateau at temperatures below -20 tion of the Tibet Armed Police”, none less the region. to contain crises, strengthen combat-readi- degree Celsius. The J-10 fighters attacked than by Niu Zhizhong, Chief of Staff of the Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of the Cen- ness, readily respond to and resolutely deter targets with conventional as well as laser- Armed Police of Tibet. tral Military Commission (CMC)—the any provocative action which undermines guided bombs, in what could be interpreted Before the setting in of winter in Tibet, highest state military organ commanding China’s sovereignty, security and territorial as circumspect strategy for air space denial transportation regiments of the Qinghai- China’s entire armed forces, has averred integrity and firmly safeguard China’s core capability. In addition the PLA Army has Tibet Corps of the PLA undertook mas- that the military should prioritise address- national interests. already been rehearsing capture of moun- sive cargo transportation in October 2014 ing issues that affect their most immediate The Chinese Politburo of the Central tain passes at heights beyond 5,000 metres for the PLA troops stationed here. Chinese interests. While speaking at a meeting in Committee of the Chinese Communist with the help of armoured vehicles and air- state-controlled media reported a motor- Beijing devoted to addressing the cause of Party (CCP) and the CMC have outlined borne troops. In fact, the Chinese Ministry cade of a truck transportation regiment bolstering the PLA’s role in the development that combat effectiveness is the sole funda- of Defence declared this in an official report, parked for being loaded with cargoes at a of China’s west, Xu “ordered the military mental criterion for the management and describing the exercise as the “first joint troop’s warehouse near the Nachitai army to make utmost efforts to maintain border use of military expenditure. Having com- actual-troop drill of the PLA air and ground service station, crossing the Tuotuo River security, enhance solidarity between the pleted construction of the fifth-generation troops under information-based conditions and the Tanggula Mountains Pass on the military, local governments and the pub- barracks of the Simhana Frontier Defence in frigid area with a high altitude”. Needless Qinghai-Tibet Highway in the Anduo lic, as well as to uphold ethnic solidarity.” Company under the Xinjiang military area to reiterate that the Chinese People’s Libera- County, south-west of the Tibet Autono- In this reference, Xu Qiliang’s comment Command (MAC), the PLA activities in the tion Army is preparing for a potential con- mous Region. These efforts for sure shall that “the prosperity, development and sta- high-altitude military terrain have received flict situation especially in its high-altitude accentuate the enhanced ability of the PLA bility of western regions are of strategic a boost. According to the Housing Office of areas, with the Military Transportation towards becoming a more mobile and bet- importance to national security and devel- the PLA’s Xinjiang MAC, the fifth-genera- Department of the PLAAF Logistics Depart- ter-equipped fighting force, which can be opment” only tends to regurgitate that tion multifunctional barracks are available ment overseeing the movement of “combat deployed faster and sustained over a longer thought. The strategy to accentuate devel- in all frontier defence companies with an readiness materials” to Tibet – reflecting a period of time across the high altitudes of opment of China’s western frontier, which elevation of 3,000 metres and above. growing PLAAF role in maintaining secu- the Tibetan plateau and provide all-inclu- crucially includes the Tibetan Autonomous Given the fact that most frontier defence rity along the Sino-Indian border in the sive support for any potential offensive oper- Region, has been well conceived and exe- companies and sentry posts are stationed on Tibetan area. SP ation outside of its mainland. cuted. Today, the 13th and 14th combined snow-capped mountainous terrain includ- The Chinese Government promulgated Corps falling under the Chengdu Military ing plateaus at altitudes of over 3,000 Dr Monika Chansoria is a Senior Fellow at the the “Great Western Development” strategy Region vouches PLA’s firm grip overT ibet. metres, the fifth-generation barracks, cost- Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi, in 1999, and since then has systematically In fact, Xu Qiliang urged the military to be ing China over 14 million yuan, comes in and a columnist on foreign policy and strategic

www.spslandforces.com invested heavily on the logistics and infra- fully aware that helping develop China’s as a critical achievement at those heights. affairs for The Sunday Guardian newspaper.

10 SP’s Land ForceS 1/2015 middle east >> The Islamic State – Self-styled Caliphate

ISIS has rapidly expanded its control over Iraq and Syria by seizing towns and cities near major supply routes, critical infrastructure and border crossings

Illustration: Vimlesh Kumar Yadav  Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) patched to help Iraqi forces but Obama does not want them to get involved in ground he Islamic State started as combat to avoid a repeat of the Iraq War an Al Qaeda splinter group. It was begun by his predecessor, George W. Bush. previously called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or International Coalition formed the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria against ISIS T(ISIS). It has declared itself as a caliph- The United States-led coalition to fight the ate and claims religious authority over all Islamic State militant group continues to Muslims across the world. It is an unrecog- grow, with numerous nations providing nised state and in its self-proclaimed status varying levels of backing in the form of it aspires to bring most of the Muslim- military equipment, aid and political sup- inhabited regions of the world under its port. In his speech to the United Nations political control beginning with territory in on September 24, 2014, President Obama the Levant region which includes Jordan, said, “Already, over 40 nations have offered Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus and part to join this coalition.” But on September 23, of southern Turkey. It has been designated 2014, Secretary of State John Kerry said as a foreign terrorist organisation by the more than 50 nations have agreed to join United States, the United Kingdom, Austra- the coalition. And in a document released by lia, Canada, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. the State Department, 62 nations (including The United Nations and Amnesty Inter- the European Union and the Arab League) national have accused the group of grave are listed as providing support to the US-led human rights abuses. coalition. The strongest allies in the coalition As a result of alleged economic and are those providing air support to the United political discrimination against Iraqi Sun- States, while others are offering delivery ser- nis, ISIS has significantly gained support, vices and some are providing humanitarian in Iraq, under the leadership of Abu Bakr history. Experts estimate the value of the ers, grenade launchers and American-made aid. The extremist group is believed to have al-Baghdadi, now reportedly killed in a US output from the dozen or so oilfields and M60 machine guns from Croatia through recruits from 51 countries. air attack in Iraq. After entering the Syr- refineries under its control in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. ian civil war, it has established a large pres- Syria at $1 million to $2 million a day. The ISIS has managed to infiltrate Iraqi A Fractious Coalition ence in Syria. The US Central Intelligence Islamic State is reportedly selling oilstored bases in Mosul, gaining access to sophisti- Strategic analysts are not at all confident Agency (CIA) has estimated in September or produced in areas under its control at a cated US weaponry. They have apparently of the coalition formed by the US for war 2014 that in both countries it has between steep discount to market prices. Truck loads taken enough US weapons from the Iraqi against the ISIS. The basic doubts arise from 20,000 and 31,500 fighters. ISIS had close are being smuggled through the border military in Mosul. According to various the true intention of all coalition partners. links to Al Qaeda until February 2014 with Turkey. media reports, ISIS can’t really use many The difficulties faced by coalition partners when, after an eight-month power struggle, The group controls many of Syria’s of the modern US weapons that fell into its dictate the duplicity of their actions. Iraq Al Qaeda cut all ties with the group, report- eastern oilfields. In July 2014, ISIS fighters possessions, and knows it and has there- has a new government of Haider al-Abadi, edly for its brutality. took control of the country’s largest oilfield, fore destroyed much of the heavy equip- who has pledged to fight ISIS and to be more The IS currently controls hundreds of Omar, which was producing about 30,000 ment it captured in Iraq: M1 tanks, M113 inclusive than the previous regime. But it square kilometres of territory and it ignores barrels a day when it was fully functioning. armoured personnel carriers, MRAP heavy urgently needs to improve military perfor- international borders. It has a presence Recently it was producing about a third of armoured trucks, and other multimillion- mance and to win the support of alienated from Syria’s Mediterranean coast to south that or less. dollar pieces of equipment which they knew Sunnis. Syria, for effective action against of Baghdad. It rules by Sharia law. Its fight- On August 21, 2014, the Wall Street they couldn’t use. Many of the advanced ISIS strongholds, will need to be backed up ers are mostly Saddam Hussein’s military Journal reported that the French Foreign pieces of US equipment have been destroyed by more effective Syrian rebel capabilities on (former Iraqi soldiers ) which was disbanded Minister Laurent Fabius said the extremist so that the Iraqi Army cannot use them in the ground – creating a tricky situation for and were unable to serve under the new group ISIS, already a formidable military the future, according to media reports. the US, UK and other western backers. Tur- Iraq Government. force, has enhanced its power by amassing key, NATO’s only Muslim member, is pre- The aim of ISIS is to create an Islamic huge piles of cash, thanks in part to individ- US War Efforts against IS pared to support only humanitarian actions. state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria. ual donors from the Middle East. Fabius said President Barack Obama has vowed that the Jordan is nervous about direct involvement Its long-term objective is the establishment that beyond military support, Western and United States will not fight another ground in US-led effort. It worries about domestic of a worldwide Caliphate, reflected in fre- Middle East countries must agree on mea- war in Iraq, seeking to reassure Americans backlash from Sunni extremists. Lebanon quent media reports by means of images of sures to dry up the Islamic State’s finances about the level of US involvement after fears and attacks from Syria-based extrem- the world united under a ISIS banner. because the Islamic State’s vast cash General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the ists and consequent de-stabilisation. It is resources have allowed it to remunerate for- US Joint Chiefs of Staff,, suggested combat already hosting millions of Syrian refugees. Territory eign fighters who have joined its cause and troops could be deployed against ISIS forces. Hezbollah actively supports Syrian forces ISIS has rapidly expanded its control over to secure weapons, ammunition and food President Obama, who has spent much of and blames the US for not being serious Iraq and Syria by seizing towns and cities supplies to function like a full-fledged army. his presidency distancing himself from the about fighting ISIS and being too close to near major supply routes, critical infra- Iraq War, stressed during a speech at Mac- the Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia is clearly structure and border crossings. ISIS Armaments Dill Air Force Base in Tampa that air strikes intimidated by ISIS and stung by interna- Over the summer of 2014, the group ISIS armaments are predominantly a mix would be the central US contribution to the tional criticism that it has created the mon- has penetrated deeper into Syria, regain- of veteran Soviet tanks; large, advanced fight against ISIS, along with coordinating ster. It has agreed to US request to train ing some territory it had lost to other rebel US-made systems; and black market arms. a coalition that he said now includes more Syrian rebels and is reportedly prepared groups and capturing several government Tanks acquired from the Syrians included than 40 countries. to use air power against ISIS. It is worried military bases. It is still trying to consoli- T-72, a relatively modern Soviet design, Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon about strengthening Assad and Iran. UAE date its control along the border between and the T-55, a post-World War II model. spokesman, said: “As of December 11, 2014, is wary of the threat from Islamists ranging Iraq and Syria. They have experienced They have also captured Chinese copies of the total cost of operations related to ISIL from the Muslim Brotherhood to Al Qaeda some setbacks in Iraq, where American Soviet field and anti-aircraft guns from the since kinetic operations started on August and ISIS and is happy to blur the huge dif- airstrikes helped Iraqi and Kurdish forces Iraqi and Syrian armies. Both countries are 8, 2014, is $1.02 billion and the average ferences between them. It is believed to have reclaim the Mosul Dam and the Turkmen known to have bought directly from China daily cost is $8.1 million.” The Pentagon’s offered to use its air force to attack ISIS. city of Amerli. over a decade ago. According to Brown latest statistics show that as of December Qatar is the wealthiest emirate that has Moses, a UK based blog, that has emerged 19, 2014, the US and its coalition partners backed the Muslim Brotherhood across the Money Supply to the Islamic State during the Syrian civil war as the foremost had flown 1,371 airstrikes in both countries Arab world, especially in Egypt, and used Al Millions of dollars in oil revenue have made authority on the weapons used in that con- – 799 in Iraq and 572 in Syria. More than Jazeera TV as a cheerleader for the changes ISIS one of the wealthiest terror groups in flict, ISIS has now obtained rocket launch- 1,600 American advisers have been dis- of the Arab Spring. Like the Saudis, it has

1/2015 SP’s Land Forces 11 >> middle east

ardently backed anti-Assad Islamist rebels other countries outside the region with few ises on paper can’t keep us safe. He further Islamic hotspots as Kashmir, IS will not get in Syria and is now being attacked for sup- options beyond the usual ‘wait and watch’. said that lofty rhetoric and good intentions very far. But it was an Al Qaeda affiliate that porting ISIS. Kuwait is under pressure to cut would not stop a single terrorist attack and launched an attack on the Indian Parliament off private donations to ISIS. Wealthy busi- Global Efforts to Halt Movement of they needed to be translated into action. in December 2001. It was a Muslim of Kash- nessmen have played a big role in funding Terror Recruits miri origin who was hanged for that attack. anti-Assad rebels. Bahrain has been host In the meanwhile, the world is waking up to Indian Connection Media has reported the dispatch of Syed to a conference on how to cut off funding the perils of allowing terrorist organisations In mid-2014, it was reported that there Asif Ibrahim, Director, Intelligence Bureau, to ISIS. Egypt backs the campaign against like the ISIS to flourish.T he UN Security were 39 Indians who are captives of IS in for a week-long trip to Saudi Arabia to dis- ISIS but wants a wider international effort Council, at a meeting chaired by President Iraq. Since then contradictory reports have cuss radicalisation of Muslim youth over the against the jihadis of Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, Obama, unanimously passed a resolution been received over their safety. The govern- Internet. He has been instrumental in break- an Al Qaeda affiliate operating in Sinai. on September 24, 2014, cracking down ment continues to believe that they are alive ing up of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and It has complained about the non-delivery on the flow of foreign fighters to militant but is not aware of their location. arresting Yasin Bhaktal the co founder of IM. of US Apache helicopters to fight its own organisations such as ISIS. The council In August 2014, parents of three Mus- It seems that Saudi Arabia has assured ‘war on terror’. Apparently using the ISIS voted 15-0 to compel countries to make it lim boys in three different Indian states India that it will not allow any Haj pilgrims crisis to advance its own interests. Egypt’s a crime for their citizens to travel abroad to reported to the police that their sons – aged to stray into Syria or Iraq. grand mufti condemned the terror group as fight with militants or recruit other people between 18 and 30 – had left home, leav- Incidents have also been reported by the un-Islamic. But there are signs that it sees to do it. Obama is the only American Presi- ing notes behind that announced they were media of seperatist elements flying the IS Assad as the lesser evil in Syria. dent to chair a Security Council meeting. He joining the ISIS to fight in Iraq and Syria. flag in Srinagar. It is now high time for the also did it in 2009. He said that resolutions There is a view that given the benign Central Government to take note of the IS Analysis of ISIS alone would not be enough because prom- form of Islam followed by such Indian activities in India. SP The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria controls territory greater than many countries and now rivals Al Qaeda as the world’s most powerful jihadist group. Consequent to their geostrategic gains, the cruelty and violence resorted to by IS against their opponents indicate a strong ideological force behind the supporters of the organisation. Mass executions, crucifixion and torture are their Indispensable hallmark which snuffs out local dissent. These activities are similar to the listed ter- rorist organisations around the world. This serves two purposes. One is that through their activities dissent is suppressed and an aura of legitimacy is created. This in turn leads to strategic gains. The ease with which IS has expanded through Iraq owes a large part to the resent- ment held by the Sunni minority towards Shia strongman Nouri al-Maliki, the former Prime Minister of Iraq. This resentment has Reference been the product of poor policies and politi- cal choices that have led many to believe that he was manipulating the political system for personal gains at the expense of the Sunni minorities. Joshua Brown in his article on “Islamic State: A Geopolitical Analysis”Yearbook Militawrit- SP’s ing for the Australian Institute of Interna- tional Affairs says. “This resentment within the Sunni communities has allowed IS to SP’s incite sentiments of victimisation, as well 2014 as notions of cultural redemption. Hence, - this has, at the least, resulted in large- scale apathy towards the organ- Military isation’s expansion and, more worryingly, brutal formsr of

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result of the Sunni- Shia split, it seems - as if Maliki is trying to take advantage of it by mobilising his Shia allies. If he is successful, the implications From 50 Years Old Media House are broad for the region.” The Iranian response to the situa- tion is also a result of this. It has given them an opportunity to extend their support to the Shia community in Iraq in the hope of extending their regional influence in Iraq. Finmeccanica and India: In the meanwhile Maliki claimed that IS is in the spirit of partnership. secretly being funded by the Gulf countries, suggesting vested interests from the south that run contrary to Iran’s wishes. In this ensuing turmoil, the Kurdish

Peshmerga have also managed to solidify42nd issue long held territorial claims. Ironically, while this directly challenges the territorial hold- ings of IS; this move also complicates Turk- Reserve Your ish and Iranian positions and influences in Own Copies, Now! the area, with both now being forced into tentative negotiations with the minority [email protected] group. The current state of affairs in this region is also being seen as the US’s neglect of responsibilities to stabilise the region

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1/2015 SP’s Land Forces 13 >> Sp’s Exclusives

Arjun Mk.II Tank Clears All The new general purpose machine guns a lifespan of over 1,00,000 km. With a terrain. Interested vendors, looking to Army Trials will be for its Parachute (Special Forces) great deal of inductions ahead of heavy respond to the Army’s requirement, will The Arjun Mk.II main battle tank has cleared battalions to augment and later replace and armoured vehicles, the Army requires not be allowed to visit Area 2 & 3 for any all user trials with the Indian Army success- the licence-built Belgian MAG-58 and a great deal of back-up crash support in kind of mapping activity. No particular fully and now awaits a maintenance evalu- Soviet-era PKM GPMGs currently in use all theatres. BEML’s HRV AV-15 will be scale has been assigned for the project. ation by the Army and, crucially, a detailed by the battalions. The weapon needs to be a contender in any competition that is However, all details as available from sub- evaluation by the Director General of Quality fully interoperable with the current weap- announced. As reported earlier by SP’s, metre resolution satellite imageries are to Assurance (DGQA). The Army has on order ons in terms of ammunition compatibility the Army is in the process of inducting be picked up. The project will be executed 118 tanks that will begin delivery once these with a barrel life of at least 20,000 rounds. over 7,000 new vehicles: 3,500 light bul- (other than field activities of Area-1) at two final evaluation processes are complete, The army has stipulated that it requires a let proof vehicles (LBPV), 2,500 infantry ADMC, Bengaluru. The air-conditioned likely by mid-2015. The Phase IV user tri- 7.62mm x 51mm calibre weapon to serve mobility vehicles, an unspecified number space will be provided. However, all other als demonstrated trench crossing and step as both a light and medium machine gun. of light armoured multipurpose vehicles, infrastructure required for the execution climbing capabilities of the Mk.II tank start- The Army is looking for a weapon with 500-600 light specialty strike specialist of the project will be established by the ing in September 2014. Last year, dynamic greater range than an LMG and lighter vehicles and 228 light strike vehicles, in vendor at ADMC, as per the existing secu- trials of 120mm penetration-cum-blast than an MMG, with a maximum effec- addition to tanks and utility trucks. rity policies of Indian Army. (PCB) ammunition for MBT Arjun Mk II tive range of 1,000 metres. Expectedly, were conducted successfully at the Proof and the Army would prefer parallel supply of Raven UAV to be pushed under Army for Night Sight for Experimental Establishment at Chandipur. telescopic sights by the OEM, but definitely Indo-US DTTI Automatic Grenade Launcher The Arjun Mk.II will conceivably begin wants standard Mil 1913 picatinny rails Considered one of the most combat-proven systems entering service in 2016. With the already on the weapon to mount different types tactical surveillance mini drones in current The Indian Army is looking to procure inducted fleet of 124 Arjun Mk.I tanks in of sighting systems. As with the two cur- operations, the AeroVironment RQ-11 thermal imaging sights for its in-service two regiments in Rajasthan, the Army rent weapons in service, the army will be Raven is not new to the Indian armed 30mm automatic grenade launcher (AGL- will be set to operate a total of four Arjun looking to use the new GPMGs in multiple forces. In 2009, during the Yudh Abhyas 17)/automatic grenade system (AGS-30) regiments. But the good news for the Arjun modes: as an infantry weapon in different at Babina in Uttar Pradesh, the Indian systems. Part of its expanded drive to programme potentially ends right here. profiles, vehicle mounted and heliborne Army got a firsthand look at Raven opera- fight night-blindness across equipment As SP’s reported earlier, there are unlikely operations. In 2010 and 2014, the Army tions in a combat scenario. US Armymen stocks in operations, the Army has stipu- to be further orders for the Arjun tank of said it was also interested in looking at a from the 14th Cavalry Regiment, Stryke- lated, “The thermal imaging sight desired any type. The total number (242 tanks) new 12.7 x 99mm heavy machine gun horse, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, by the Infantry should be a light weight on order is far from good news: The DRDO for use on a light strike vehicle/infantry 25th Infantry Division, demonstrated use and ruggedized device to enable accurate has said that any order below 500 tanks fighting vehicle and in a ground role while of the RQ-11 to soldiers and officers from engagement of target by use of 30mm (in a mix of Mk.I and Mk.II) makes Project mounted on vehicle and tripod respectively. the Indian Army’s 94th Armoured Brigade automatic grenade launcher (AGL-17)/ Arjun a dead loss. This is precisely what it is The fresh RFI is expected to be published in and other units under the 31st Armoured automatic grenade system (AGS-30) at likely to be, which is why products based on March this year, with the Army looking to Division. The demonstrations were part night/hours of darkness/poor visibility the Arjun chassis (bridge-layer tank, self- move quickly for a contract. of preliminary familiarisation both of the at an effective range of 1,700 metres.” propelled artillery) or Arjun turret (Tank- drone technology itself, as well as combat Interested vendors have been called upon X) are being pushed too. But for the Arjun Army revives interest in Light tactics involving hand-launched surveil- to specify the mount design and details tank itself, the fresh order could be a death Specialist Vehicle lance drones, a capability still unavailable of the thermal imaging sight, the type of knell. The Army is keen that the DRDO Unable to bring to fruition a six-year quest to the Indian Army’s infantry. While a slew reticle pattern, the zeroing mechanism for focuses on a futuristic main battle tank. Of for a light specialist vehicle, the Army of requirements have popped up over the the sight, whether the sight has been pro- couse, this Army-DRDO conversation con- plans to announce afresh its interest in years for hand-launched mini and micro vided with optical magnification or digi- tinues at a time when the very efficacy of procuring an undisclosed number of a surveillance unmanned air systems, none tal zoom along with the corresponding armoured land force is being questioned at common light specialist vehicle (LSV) for have been inducted. While several indig- field of view, detection, recognition and the macro war-fighting level in the region. all arms in a 3,500-kg unladen weight enous programmes exist, the US sees the Identification ranges varying from clear class category with a payload capacity RQ-11 Raven as a ‘low hanging fruit’ for night conditions to pitch dark conditions Army still awaits ‘cornershot’ of 900-1,200 kg. The Army had origi- co-production in India under the ambi- and adverse weather conditions (specify weapon capability for pistols nally expressed its interest in such vehi- tious Defence Technology and Trade Initia- adverse weather conditions) and also the The Indian Army, which made known its cles back in August 2010. The Army has tive (DTTI) pushed by the Obama Admin- interpretation of detection, recognition requirement for a corner-shot capability stipulated in its information request that istration. The infantry’s requirements of and identification ranges in relation to that allows it to mount in-service 9mm the LSV needs to be capable of perform- such technology, and the fact that it is per- the type of target. Also suggest methodol- pistols for firing from around a corner, a ing reconnaissance and patrol roles for all ceived as an easy deliverable -- the US does ogy for field evaluation of the above stated capability widespread with tactical spe- arms, provide space and cross mobility in not have strict export controls on the very parameters. cial units in the US and Israel, has still all terrains (including high altitude and modestly capable Raven, as it does with not been able to progress the require- deserts) to small parties/teams (approxi- higher performance unmanned systems Army to make MMGs night-capable ment. The Army is seeking the capability mately six) and operately independently in like the Global Hawk and Predator -- and The Indian Army is looking to procure specifically for its Rashtriya Rifles units the battlefield. The Army has so far been will be looking to use it as a door-opener thermal imaging sights for its 7.62mm deployed in Jammu & Kashmir, units given an opportunity to try out a series to other, more complex co-development medium machine guns in service. The regularly involved in firefights with mili- of LSVs both Indian and foreign-made. and production understandings. Primarily Army has stipulated that “the thermal tants holed up in residential areas. After Indian contenders are likely to include the used by the US military (including the US imaging sight desired by the Infantry expressing initial interest in such a capa- Mahindra Axe and Tata LSV, while the for- Air Force, Marines and Special Forces), the should be a lightweight and ruggedised bility in 2009 and 2012, the Army is now eign offerings include the Defender series Raven has been exported widely, with close device to enable accurate engagement understood to be interested in giving this from Land Rover. Trials will be conducted to 20,000 airframes delivered to date. of human target by use of 7.62 mm capability to its standard issue 9mm pis- across terrain in three different theatres medium machine gun at night/hours tols, which include the Austrian Glock 17, since the selected vehicles are likely to be Indian Army for large-scale of darkness/poor visibility at an effec- Italian Beretta 92 and German-Swiss Sig purchased in large numbers for use across mapping project tive range – 1,800 metres.” Interested Sauer P226. The capability involves an arms. Variants of the LSVs with weapons The Indian Army’s Military Survey vendors have been called upon to spec- enhancement kit integrated with an exist- fitment capabilities will also be incorpo- (GSGS) is planning to map certain areas ify the technology of thermal imaging ing weapon system with a certain degree rated once the tender is finalised this year. of the country on large scale. As a test bed sight meeting the requirement for the of dismantling. A video camera and moni- Sources say that the size of the order also three areas have been selected for large 7.62mm MAG-58 2A1 medium machine tor allows the user to point the weapon at means it would make eminent sense to scale mapping. All the areas are required gun, the FPA and pitch of the detector a fulcrum around a corner and use the purchase a vehicle developed and built in to be mapped using latest digital mapping being offered, whether the sight has been weapon to survey, target and fire accord- India to the Army’s specifications. There is techniques, including GIS creation. The provided with optical magnification or ingly. The Army also wants the cornershot a possibility that the requirement may be mapping of the areas as a pilot project is digital zoom alongwith the correspond- capability for use with in-service under- clubbed with additional similar require- with the aim to evaluate various modern ing field of view of the thermal imaging barrel grenade launchers (UBGLs). The ments by the Home Ministry. techniques/technology and resources sight in Azimuth (horizontal) and eleva- US-Israeli firm Cornershot is understood available for large-scale mapping and tion (vertical), specify detection, recog- to have demonstrated the capability to the Indian Army for Heavy Recovery GIS creation as also to assess the capa- nition and identification ranges varying Indian Army on at least two occasions. Vehicle bility of Indian industry in large-scale from clear night conditions to pitch dark The Indian paramilitary forces, particu- The Indian Army is looking to procure mapping (including GIS creation) with conditions and adverse weather condi- larly those engaged in anti-Maoist opera- an unspecified number of heavy recovery and without ground control points and tions (specify adverse weather condi- tions, have also evaluated the capability. vehicles to recover stalled, overturned or ground visits. Two of these areas would tions). Also, specify the interpretation of Questions about the capability were also broken down heavy or armoured vehicles be of approx. size 100 km x 50 km each detection, recognition and identification raised with infantry weapons providers at of the forces. The Army is looking for a and the third area is 25km x 25km in size. ranges in relation to the type of target, Defexpo in 2014 and Aero India in 2013. vehicle capable of providing recovery Area-1 (100 km x 50 km) and Area-3 (25 and type of controls that will be made cover for vehicles over 15 tonnes in all ter- km x 25 km) are in general area Maha- available on the thermal imaging sight Para (SF) Urgently Require rain (desert, plains, marshy ground, rocky jan (Rajasthan). These have flat terrain. for user application in operations. SP General Purpose Machine Gun ground and to a limited extent in moun- Vendor will be allowed to visit Area-1for Para (SF) units of the Indian Army require tains up to 4,500 metres above sea level). control point provision, ground verifica- —SP’s Special Correspondent an unspecified number of general purpose It needs to be capable of un-ditching, up- tion and attribute date collection. Area-2 machine guns (GPMG) on a fast-track righting, extricating and pulling wheeled (100 km x 50 km) is in general area Dev- For complete versions log on to: basis for which an RFI is expected shortly. vehicles up to 26 tonnes. It needs to have lali (Maharashtra). It has undulating www.spslandforces.com www.spslandforces.com

14 SP’s Land ForceS 1/2015 news in brief >>

US Army negotiating new AH-64 production scheduled for the first quarter More Autonomy to DPSUs and OFBs Apache agreement with Boeing of 2016. Commenting on Chemring Ord- for Better Performance: Defence Publisher and Editor-in-Chief nance, AirTronic COO Richard Vandiver Minister, Parrikar Jayant Baranwal said: “Their experience, resources and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Editor expertise in the 40mm munitions space is recently said MoD would be bringing about Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) unequalled and complements AirTronic’s major changes in the Defence Procurement own capabilities. This agreement forms the Procedure and the Defence Production Senior Editorial Contributor Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) industry’s best team and brings a shoulder- Policy to provide greater autonomy to the fired recoilless rifle system (launcher and defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) Senior Technical Group Editor Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) rockets) to the market that we believe will and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) units Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) be superior to anything available globally. for their expansion and diversification. The shoulder-launched RPG-7 anti-tank Addressing the Consultative Committee Assistant Group Editor R. Chandrakanth weapons are manufactured by Russia, but attached to his Ministry, he said, we need AirTronic USA has recently developed a to delegate powers to DPSUs to enable them Contributors US version, called Amerikansky RPG-7. to take decisions so that they improve the India General V.P. Malik (Retd), Lt General Vijay The US Army is reportedly in talks with In December 2014, the company secured serviceability of the platforms available to Oberoi (Retd), Lt General R.S. Nagra (Retd), Boeing regarding a new multi-year agree- a safety release from the US Army for its the armed forces. “Every machine in opera- Lt General S.R.R. Aiyengar (Retd), ment for the acquisition of an additional US-manufactured 40mm variant. The tion is like adding an additional equipment. Major General Ashok Mehta (Retd), 240 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters safety release permits the company to con- DPSUs will be provided support but they Major General G.K. Nischol (Retd), from 2017 to 2021. US Army Apache duct a shoulder-launch of the RPG-7 USA must think like a commercial organisa- Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd), Program Manager Colonel Jeff Hager was launcher at the Army Expeditionary War- tion”, he said. Brigadier S. Mishra (Retd), Rohit Sharma quoted by Reuters as saying that army rior Experiments Spiral J event, scheduled Referring to the ‘Make in India’ Pro- Chairman & Managing Director acquisition chief Heidi Shyu recently to be conducted by the Army Manoeuvre cedure in defence, Parrikar said it needs Jayant Baranwal signed a document for the two sides to Battle Lab at Fort Benning, Georgia, from further improvement. Defence industry in Executive Vice President start work on an agreement, with the aim January to March. India is a unique industry where the only (Planning & Business Development) of receiving approval from the Defence customer is the Services. The meeting dis- Rohit Goel Secretary by March 2016. Boeing attack TATRA TRUCKS at IDEX 2015 cussed in detail the performance of the 41 Administration helicopters business development head ordnance factories and nine DPSUs. Bharti Sharma Mark Ballew said it could include options Taking part in the discussions, Mem- Creative Director for foreign military sales of 100 Apaches. bers of Parliament wanted to know Anoop Kamath The US Government has already approved whether the government has drawn up a Design Apache sales to Qatar and Indonesia, clear roadmap to reduce defence imports. Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht Ballew added, noting that the helicopter Some members felt that there was a con- Research Assistant: Graphics has also drawn interest from other coun- certed campaign to denigrate the public Survi Massey tries. According to Reuters, lawmakers sector and to promote the private sector. Sales & Marketing generally ask military services to demon- They felt that unlike consumer products, Director Sales & Marketing: Neetu Dhulia strate significant savings compared to the the design and development of defence General Manager Sales: Rajeev Chugh cost of negotiating purchases on a year- product has a long gestation and the con- SP’s Website by-year basis. Meanwhile, Pentagon chief tribution of DPSUs has to be appreciated Sr. Web Developer: Shailendra P. Ashish arms buyer Frank Kendall reportedly told in that light. They expressed the view Web Developer: Ugrashen Vishwakarma the House Armed Services Committee Tatra Trucks will present itself for the first that the private sector must be promoted Published bimonthly by Jayant Baranwal that he favoured multi-year agreements time at one of the most important defence in a big way, but not at the cost of the on behalf of SP Guide Publications Pvt because they allow programme manag- exhibitions in the world, IDEX in Abu public sector. The Defence Secretary R.K. Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this ers to focus on performance, rather than Dhabi. The firm is the new owner of Tatra Mathur; Secretary Defence Production G. publication may be reproduced, stored in a annual contract negotiations. Powered by automotive company, based in Koprivnice. Mohan Kumar; Secretary, ESW, P.D. Meena retrieval system, or transmitted in any form two GE T700-701D engines, the AH-64 The relation with the Middle East coun- also attended the meeting. or by any means, photocopying, recording, Apache is primarily used for distributed tries is very important for this famous electronic, or otherwise without the prior operations and deep precision strikes Czech automotive company, and IDEX is India Conducts first Canister-based written permission of the publishers. against relocatable targets. It can also pro- a traditional place where the news about Trial of Agni-V Ballistic Missile Printed in India vide armed reconnaissance when required company products are presented to cus- The Indian Defence Research and Develop- by Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd in day, night, obscured battlefield and tomers. Tatra Trucks will bring two exhib- ment Organisation (DRDO) has successfully © SP Guide Publications, 2015 adverse weather conditions. its to IDEX that will start to serve as demo conducted the first canister-based trial of Subscription/ Circulation vehicles in Saudi Arabia, as well as other the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile Annual Inland: `600 • Overseas: US$180 Email: [email protected] AirTronic partners with Chemring vehicles that will be introduced to coun- (ICBM) on Wheeler Island off the Odisha [email protected] to develop US-manufactured RPG-7 tries within the Middle East region. coast. Launched from a canister-mounted rockets Tatra Phoenix was introduced in on a road-mobile launcher from the inte- Letters to Editor [email protected] AirTronic USA has signed a new teaming 2011 as a result of cooperation with DAF grated test range’s launch complex-IV, the agreement with Chemring Ordnance to Trucks NV. This product line will be pre- nuclear-capable missile climbed to a height For Advertising Details, Contact: develop different versions of US-manufac- sented at IDEX for the very first time. The of more than 600 km in its parabolic tra- [email protected] [email protected] tured RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launch- producer has decided to show this new jectory and accurately hit the designated ers. Engineers and project managers from model as an all-wheel-drive 6x6 tractor target point in the Indian Ocean after 20 SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD both companies will immediately start for different purposes. The base of the minutes. The missile’s parameters were Corporate Office A 133 Arjun Nagar, Opp Defence Colony, research, development and testing, with truck is Tatra unique chassis with inde- monitored by radars and electro-optical sys- New Delhi 110003, India pendent swinging half axles suspended tems, while the ships located in mid-range Tel: +91(11) 24644693, 24644763, by air. The comfortable cabin is supplied and at the target point tracked the vehicle 24620130 >> Show Calendar by DAF. It is available in a ‘day cab’ ver- and witnessed the final event. Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 sion, as well as a ‘sleeper cab’ version. DRDO Missiles and Strategic Systems 22–26 February Regd Office IDEX 2015 Four power versions of the water-cooled Director General and Agni Programme Mis- Fax: +91 (11) 23622942 ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, UAE 12.9l engine PACCAR MX are available. sion Director Dr V.G. Sekaran said: “All mission Email: [email protected] www.idexuae.ae/page.cfm/link=18 These are 265 kW, 300k W, 340 kW, and objectives have been achieved, down-range Representative Offices 375 kW. They can be completed with ZF ships have confirmed final splashdown, the Bengaluru, INDIA 23–25 February 16-speed manual or automated gearbox. mission is a great success and it is a momen- Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) Border Management Summit A full automatic gearbox is also avail- tous occasion.” It is India’s first ever ICBM 204, Jal Vayu Vihar, Kalyan Nagar, Rennaissance Washington, DC able on demand. Tatra Phoenix is further launch from a canister and is a giant leap in Bengaluru 560043, India. Tel: +91 (80) 23682204 Downtown Hotel, USA equipped with Tatra transfer case that country’s deterrence capability. www.bordermanagementsummit.com brings the power to the driveline inside of The road-mobile canister-version will MOSCOW, RUSSIA Tatra backbone tube. enable Agni-V to be fired from stop-to- LAGUK Co., Ltd, Yuri Laskin Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., 3–5 March The second exhibit is the model Tatra launch within a few minutes and ensure Global Security Asia 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia. 815-7, which is also available in the drive higher reliability, longer shelf-life and Suntec Singapore Convention & Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762, Exhibition Centre, Singapore version 6x6 with a platform as a cargo/ reduced maintenance. In addition, it is Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 www.globalsecasia.com/exhibition troop carrier. This vehicle is built on Tatra expected to provide the Indian armed www.spguidepublications.com unique chassis, all axles suspended by air. forces with the operational flexibility to www.spslandforces.com 16–18 March The solution allows the vehicle to travel at swiftly transport and fire the missile from RNI Number: DELENG/2008/25818 Integrated Air & Missile Defence a high speed, even in a rough terrain. The their preferred locations. Capable of car- NH Collection Sevilla, Seville, Spain model is equipped with a Cummins ISLe rying a 1.1-tonne payload, the 17-metre- www.airmissiledefenceevent.com 375 engine, which has a 276 kW output, long Agni-V is an indigenously developed and a Tatra 10-speed automated gearbox. ICBM with a strike range of 5,000 km. It 23–25 March Wheels on the vehicle are equipped with a has proven its capabilities in two previous Future Artillery 2015 central tire inflation system that allows the open configuration launches. The missile is Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel and Spa, tyres to be filled in/by the driver from cabin. expected to undergo one joint trial before London, UK The cabin is produced in Tatra, and due to entering service with the Indian Army by www.future-artillery.com its design can be very easily armoured. the end of this year, reported The Hindu. SP

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